Boeing B-29 Superfortress vs de Havilland Comet
Top speed, range, size and history side by side. Each was built for its own job, so this shows how they differ, not which is better.
The de Havilland Comet is faster: 740 km/h against 574 km/h for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress flies further: 5,230 km against 2,400 km for the de Havilland Comet. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress has the wider wingspan: 43.1 m against 35 m for the de Havilland Comet. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is heavier at takeoff: 61 tonnes against 48 tonnes for the de Havilland Comet. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress first flew in 1942, 7 years before the de Havilland Comet (1949).
| Boeing B-29 Superfortress | de Havilland Comet |
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| Top speed | 574 km/h (357 mph) | 740 km/h (460 mph) |
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| Range | 5,230 km (3,250 miles) | 2,400 km (1,491 miles) |
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| Length | 30.2 m (99 ft) | 28.6 m (94 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 43.1 m (141 ft) | 35 m (115 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 61 t (133,511 lb) | 48 t (104,939 lb) |
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| First flight | 1942 | 1949 |
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| Crew and capacity | 11 crew | 36 to 44 passengers |
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| Engines | 4 × Wright R-3350 radial | 4 × Ghost turbojet, buried in the wings |
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| Built by | Boeing | de Havilland |
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| Country | USA | UK |
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